Key lever



Feb. 16, 1960 INVENTOR. PHIL/P N. P71 512 @MJQ s atcs KEY LEVER Philip M. Pyper, Seattle, Wash.- Application August 22, 1957, Serial No. 679,594

3 Claims. 01. 70-456) j This invention relates to articles of those kinds which are generally designated as key containers. More particularly, it relates to improvements in key containers of pocket size and adapted to hold one or, more keys as, for example, automobile keys, door keys or others of comparable size, for easy movement from housed or sheathed positions to positions of use. Y r

.Itis the principal object of this invention to provide akey container of the above stated kind wherein keys are pivoted for swinging adjustment into and from a handle or sheath forming portion, and wherein said handle portion is adapted, when a key is extended therefrom as for application and use, to serve as a pistol grip type of hand hold and guide for the easy insertion of the key, especially if the key hole is located in a position not easily accessible, and which handle after the key has been inserted will serve as a crank form of element for easy turning of the barrel or bolt of the lock to which the key is applied.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide novel means for the individual pivotal mounting of the keys in the sheath or handle member and novel means associated with the keys whereby they may be easily and selectively swung from sheathed to unsheathed positions.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of novel means in the present form of container, whereby a key, when extended from the sheath or handle member, will be held in the most practical position relative thereto for its insertion and its manipulation.

Still another object of the invention resides in the pro vision of means for eifecting a positive holding or latching of an extended key to prevent its accidental swinging away from its adjusted position of use.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention reside in the various details of construction and combination of parts as embodied in my improved key container.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the key holder, embodied by the present invention, showing slidably mounted clips as employed for holding the keys in housed position and for locking them in extended position of use.

. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same, with one side of the sides removed for disclosure of the key actuating spring.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

This container comprises what will. herein be designated as the sheath 10. This part preferably is formed from a single piece of fiat sheet material such as aluminum, or other similar and suitable light weight material; the piece of material being folded longitudinally upon itself, as best shown in enlarged cross-section in Fig. 3, to form a housing with spaced opposite sidewalls a and 10b, joined by a bottom portion 100. The opposite 2 sidewalls are alike in size and are spaced sufliciently for the mounting of selected keys between them as presently explained. This sheath 10 simulates, in purpose and in size, the handle of a thin pocket knife, for easy carrying and convenient use of the keys.

Mounted in each of the opposite end portions of the housing is a key 12 here shown to be of the usual automobile key type. The keys may diifer in size and shape within reasonable limits not inconsistent for use in the present sheath. Each key has the usual head portion 12h at one end formed with a hole as at 12f therethrough as for its application to a key ring, and by which, in the present instance, it is fixed to a mounting and adjusting plate 13. As fixed to its mounting plate, each key is adapted to be received in the housing flatwise between its opposite sidewalls at one of its opposite ends, as has been shown in Fig. 2. Each key mounting plate 13 is pivotally fixed in the handle by a rivet 14 passed through the sidewalls of the handle and through a round hole 13h in the plate as has been illustrated in Fig. 3. When the keys are enclosed or sheathed in the opposite ends of the sheath, their shank portions are contained side by side and in overlapped relationship.

In order that the keys 12 as thus mounted may not swing loosely in the handle on the pivot rivets 14, a spring teusioned friction washer, as at 21 in Fig. 3, is applied about each rivet between the key adjusting plate and sidewall of handle to frictionally hold the key against free turning.

Preferably the rivet as used for mounting each key plate in the housing is composed of a headed tubular outer body 14a and a headed stud 1412 as shown in Fig. 3; these parts entering the housing from opposite sides, and the stud being threaded into the tubular body. The heads preferably are substantially flattened or are countersunk and brought flush with the side surfaces of the handle.

It'is shown in Fig. 2 that the key 12 is fixed to its mounting plate 13 by a rivet or screw 16 passed through hole 12] in the head of the key and a hole, not shown, formed through the plate.

In Fig. 2, I have shown my key holding device em bodied by this invention wherein spring means operates to push the keys from their sheathed positions toward their positions of use, and sliding clips or latch devices are adjustable on the handle to hold the keys sheathed or to release them.

It is to be understood that while the keys 12 might be mounted directly on the pivots 14, it is preferred that in this form of device, key mounting plates 13 be employed.

Contained in the base portion of the sheath 10, lengthwise thereof, is a leaf spring 25. This is upwardly bowed between its ends to such extent as to push outwardly on the swinging end portions of the housed keys. The opposite end portions of the sheath are closed as at 26, and these ends operate as stops to limit the extent to which the keys may be swung outwardly at the most practical positions of use relative to the handle.

Each key is held in its housed position against the outward pressure of the spring 25 by a clip 30 that is applied across the open edge of the sheath. Each clip is of U-form and has its opposite leg portions turned downwardly against the sheath sides, then turned inwardly at their ends, and slidably contained in slots 32 formed in the sidewalls parallel with their edges. Each clip can be moved along the slots to clear it of its key so that the spring will act to push the key to a partly open position where it can be engaged or grasped and swung to its position of use and there held by sliding the correspond ing clip along the sheath and engaging it in a notch 35 formed in the head portion of the key. To release the key, the clip is slid away from it and the key swung 2,924,961 Patented Feb. 16, 1960.

downinto the sheath". 'The'n the' clip is adjusted toaposition overlying the key, thus to holdithoused'.

The key container which I have described is so designed that the sheath portion can serve as a turning member for the key. The sheath {aids in turning-a key in a lock that is stuck. When the key isbeing'used in an ignition switch lock, the sheath can be used .as an easy. and convenientmeans for flipping "the key to locked or unlocked position.

The device provides an easy and convenient means for locking either key in its-extended position of use which is approximately at a right angle to the handle, or' slightly more. It is anticipated that all keys, as applied to the sheath, will be held in a right side up position, ready for use without any guessing.

The advantages residing in this form of 'key container" are: First, the key to be used is given anamp'le sized used in an automobile, but is not limited to use to keys for any 'specifieuse: I

handle for easy application and manipulation ofthe key,

even with a gloved hand, as contrasted with the small head portion of the ordinary key. Second, the handle serves as a sort of pistol grip element whereby the placement of a key in a rather difficult spot, is made relatively easy. Third, the handle serves'as a means for: easily locating the key among the various items carried in a hand bag.

Other advantages are in the attractiveness of-the de vice and in the provision for convenient carrying of the most essential or most frequently used keys as generally I claim:

1. A key holder comprising a pair of plates, means joining said plates in spaced, parallel relationship to form a key housing, key mounting means disposed at opposite ends of said plates to mount the keys for movement into and from said housing, spring-means in said housing and engageable with the mounted keys-to urge the free ends of the keys to project above said plates, and clip means mounted on said plates andsengageable with the keys to retain the keys within the housing and. in fixed position when extended from the housing.

2. A key holderasinaclaim lwhereinieach key mounting means includes a screw extending through said plates and a carrier plate pivotably mounted on said screw and the key being removably secured to said carrier plate.

3. A key holder as in claim 2 wherein said carriepplate has a notchformed therein and' said clip meansds adapted to'be-rernovably seated in said'notch.

- References Cited inthefile-ofthis patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Moberg May 22, 1 956 i -eh. 

